JJ's return to phoenix

[brianarizona]

hello fellow suns fans- I am an Arizona native but am currently living in utah for another two weeks. I just checked the box scored and see that the Suns are pretty much destroying the Hawks. I have been reading articles that have been hyping up JJ coming back to phoenix and how he would be treated by the crowd players etc. I am curious as to what happened as his name was announced and if anything happened to him during the game. I wouldnt mind Nash schooling him up a few times and one of our bigs just laying him out. Too bad Amare can't throw down a dunk or two over him and show him what he is missing. Anyways if those of you who were able to watch the game could fill me in on what has happend with him so far I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Chaz]

hello fellow suns fans- I am an Arizona native but am currently living in utah for another two weeks. I just checked the box scored and see that the Suns are pretty much destroying the Hawks. I have been reading articles that have been hyping up JJ coming back to phoenix and how he would be treated by the crowd players etc. I am curious as to what happened as his name was announced and if anything happened to him during the game. I wouldnt mind Nash schooling him up a few times and one of our bigs just laying him out. Too bad Amare can't throw down a dunk or two over him and show him what he is missing. Anyways if those of you who were able to watch the game could fill me in on what has happend with him so far I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

So far the fans have booed him every time he has touched the ball.

 

[brianarizona]

nothing makes me happier then hearing that. I wish Diaw could go one on one with him or something just to show him what a smoking deal we got

 

[elindholm]

To Johnson's credit, he's still putting up a good game. He's really the only Atlanta player with a pulse.

 

[Chaz]

Diaw did blow past him for a layup on a face up.



Joe played OK. He is clearly having to do too much himself.
He had a couple of those floaters that brought back some fond memories.

I feel bad for Joe because that situation sucks but he did choose it himself.

 

[hsandhu]

Did anyone hear kevin ray ranting about how dissapointing it was to here the fans boo jj? And how classless the suns fans were? What a total clown. This was more than a guying leaving a team, this was a guy breaking up achampionship contender (fortunately it looks like the suns lucked out, and got the better of the whole situation, and will still be contenders when amare comes back).

 

[Phill11]

Great game. Just got back. Most the booing came from section 219 Nice job guys! (I was in 220)

But every 5 minutes or so a guy would yell "JOE JOHNSON SUCKS!!" then the whole section would applaude. Awesome job guys.

 

[JS22]

Hey Phil,

I was there too, section 105. I could hear the guy yelling from across the arena.

I have NEVER heard Suns fans boo as much as we did tonight.

 

[jbeecham]

I was down in Section 108 booing every time he touched the ball the entire game. I even boo'd him when he inbounded the ball. JJ did have a decent game, but all he did was go one-on-one and hit shots over Raja Bell. The Hawks don't play as a team at all. They have no ball movement or spacing or anything. If the Suns didn't clear their bench for the entire 4th qtr then the Suns could've won by 40+.

 

[Phill11]

Hey Phil,

I was there too, section 105. I could hear the guy yelling from across the arena.

I have NEVER heard Suns fans boo as much as we did tonight.

It was my first game. Definatley had fun.

My dad brought up a good point though. JJ was booed more than anyone in AWA. Kidd didn't get it as bad as JJ. Neither did Horry or anyone else.

 

[jbeecham]

I think Jason Kidd got boo'ed as badly the 1st game he came to AWA after the trade. The main difference is that JKidd got traded from a 50 and fade team and JJ decided to leave a championship contender (broke up a contender) for the money and the chance to be "The Man" on a horrible team. JJ deserves every boo he got and I hope he went home crying. He's going to regret his decision every day for the rest of his life and especially when the Suns are lifting a championship trophy.

 

[George O'Brien]

JJ had a good first half, but his five turnovers and only one assist tells volumes. Since he didn't pass the ball much, it seemed like most of his turnovers were from travelling and he wasn't called several other times.

I only listened to first part of the second half (somehow after the Hawks having two guys thrown out of the game I figured I could leave to play music without fears), but it looks like JJ did not do much in the third quarter. Can anyone tell me what happened?

 

[Skratchy_Seal]

This had me cracking up for some reason.

"It was kind of fun. The fans, you know, I always expect the worst. So (the booing) was expected and it kind of gave me an adrenaline rush, so I really appreciate what they did. It was helpful, I appreciate it. Every time I come here, if I can get that, I’d appreciate it."-JJ

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I cannot believe how much the crowd effected the outcome of this game. This link is a must read....Great Job Suns fans who attended the game. Lets build this into a better home court advantage....


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=251204021

 

[BillsCarnage]

Great game. Just got back. Most the booing came from section 219 Nice job guys! (I was in 220)

But every 5 minutes or so a guy would yell "JOE JOHNSON SUCKS!!" then the whole section would applaude. Awesome job guys.

That was moi getting the section started - it was great. I was in the very last row yelling "Joe Johnson SUCKS!" There was another guy towards the bottom yelling it too. He came up in the first quarter and we agreed when there was a break in the game we'd start the chant and the whole section started going. It was great.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Hey Phil,

I was there too, section 105. I could hear the guy yelling from across the arena.

I have NEVER heard Suns fans boo as much as we did tonight.

Excellent. I was affraid no one down stairs would hear me. By the end of the 1st quarter my voice was gone.

 

[DevilPrideBAS]

I cannot believe how much the crowd effected the outcome of this game. This link is a must read....Great Job Suns fans who attended the game. Lets build this into a better home court advantage....


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=251204021

I love how he said, "I didn't want to get out there again -- to get more boos." Awesome, way to go Suns fans!

 

[devilfan02]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2005120421&prov=ap

That was awesome. He deserved every boo he got. Check out the above article. JJ sat out the final 15 minutes when the outcome no longer was in doubt. He was quoted in the article saying "I didn't want to get out there again -- to get more boos," he said. Doesn't get much lower than that

 

[scoutmasterdave]

It appears I'm in the minority here, but I thought the incessant booing was a bit much, bordering on classless. Sure, you boo the snot out of him during introductions and the first few times he touches the ball, but every time he touches the ball the whole game? Over the top and unnecessary, if you ask me.

BTW - Majerle at one point mentioned that this year, JJ is the second-highest-paid player in the league, behind only Shaq. LMAO.

 

[hsandhu]

It appears I'm in the minority here, but I thought the incessant booing was a bit much, bordering on classless. Sure, you boo the snot out of him during introductions and the first few times he touches the ball, but every time he touches the ball the whole game? Over the top and unnecessary, if you ask me.

BTW - Majerle at one point mentioned that this year, JJ is the second-highest-paid player in the league, behind only Shaq. LMAO.

Is anyone else as sick of people saying the fans were classless in their treatment of jj. You have mike woodson and josh childress talking about how suns fans are bad fans after that display. You would expect that from them.

But you have nash saying it was "unfair," marion implying the same thing, suns columnistis (paul coro in tomorrow's republic) and radio hosts saying it was classless, and even some fans.

Excuse me, but when joe johnson left, at the time he knew he was breaking up the core of a championship contender (and possibly removing any serious threat of a championsip run by the suns for quite a while) to go to one of the worst franchises in sports, for no difference in money. Of course things worked out better for the suns as has been pointed out countless times and if amare comes back strong they look like as strong a contender as they have since 92-93.

But when joe left he didn't know that, it seemed apparent he was breaking the core of a championship contender.
Which gives the fans of the suns every reason to be pissed off at him. If the worst they do to express that anger is booing, who frickin' cares. To act like booing someone is so horrible. Grow up, it's booing, no one's throwing anything at him, or threatening him.

I'm really disgusted by the response to the suns fans, in particular by people associated with the suns.

And taking into account the 20 million up front, i think majerle is actually right.

 

[green machine]

I have no problem with the booing. To leave the Suns for the worst team in basketball is an insult, and some of the things that have come out since then leave me with more of a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to JJ.


also, the people who are complaining about the booing know JJ personally, so that's why they're against it. I'm sure he's a good guy, but the fans felt wronged, so they have a right to boo.

 

[hsandhu]

I've criticized sarver plenty of times, but god bless hime for basically being the only one to say (in the republic) screw joe, he got the reaction he got (although i'm sure he loved the reaction, while most others associated with joe in the past were upset about it). And being the only one i've heard defending the fans.


"No one likes to be dumped," Suns Managing Partner Robert Saver said of the reaction.



"He knew what he was getting into," Sarver said of Johnson's July request to be let go. "He knew he was going to the worst team in the league, but that's not why he went there."

 

[arthurracoon]

It appears I'm in the minority here, but I thought the incessant booing was a bit much, bordering on classless. Sure, you boo the snot out of him during introductions and the first few times he touches the ball, but every time he touches the ball the whole game? Over the top and unnecessary, if you ask me.

 

[elindholm]

Fans are expected to react to the game. What, they're supposed to either cheer or be silent? I think actual verbal abuse is going too far, but booing is basically a way of saying, "We disapprove." The fans have every right to disapprove of the way Johnson handled his summer, and not only is it their "right" to say so, the very nature of spectator sports demands that they say so.

I personally feel that the "You suck!" taunts go too far, but I have no problem with the booing. It's the vocal equivalent of a thumbs-down or a frowny-face.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Of course they booed. JJ epitomizes everything that we DON'T value in team sports.

As has been already said, he didn't leave for the money. He could have had just as much here (yes, Sarver would have matched if Joe had wanted him to, but that's another debate). He was on the verge of a championship, but gave that up in order to be "the man" on a team that will not likely sniff the playoffs for years. He didn't want to play "4th wheel" behind Nash, Amare, and Marion.

Personal agenda over team.
Personal stats over wins.
Personal jealousies over a championship.

It all says, "I am a loser" and its perfectly appropriate--even necessary--for fans to tell him so.

There are many of us that have been Suns fans longer than JJ's been alive--we know how rare an opportunity it is to get a shot at a ring. And to us, its absolutely disgusting to see a player throw that away--not only for himself, but also for his teammates (no one knew what a blessing that trade would be at the time)--for the sake of personal jealousies. I don't know any other way to interpret "wanting to be the man" in this context.